Kriti Mehrotra
It was on the morning of June 25, 2003, when the entire world turned upside down for the loved ones of Patricia Leigh Wiley Mills as she was found dead in her suburban home in Goliad, Texas. She sadly died of asphyxiation after her house at 127 South San Patricio Street went up in flames, as explored in NBC’s ‘Dateline: Secrets in the Ashes,’ but thankfully her then-6-year-old son survived. The cause of the fire could never be ascertained, and there was no physical evidence of foul play either, yet her loving sister Sharon Wiley Burdette always believed she had been deliberately killed.
Sharon Burdette Hails From a Tight-Knit Family
As one of five children born to Patricia Ann Coward and Richard Wiley Sr., Sharon Wiley Burdette reportedly grew up in an incredibly affectionate, empathetic, loving, and supportive household. She was always surrounded by her siblings – Richard Wiley Jr., Steven Wiley, Jo Ann Wiley, and Patricia Leigh Wiley – so they naturally ended up building the foundation of an unwaveringly close bond. In fact, it persisted even as they grew up, moved out of their parents’ home, and established their own lives, because they made sure to keep in touch through casual hangouts as well as phone calls.
Sharon thus knew all about her sister Patricia’s tumultuous relationship with her husband, Delbert Andrew Mills, by the time 2003 rolled around, especially as they also lived rather close by. They used to visit one another often to talk about anything and everything under the sun, but their main discussions in the months leading up to the fateful day revolved around the latter’s union. That’s because the homemaker’s husband was allegedly abusive towards both her and their son, John Mills, which is why her sister believed he was responsible for her death from the get-go.
Sharon Burdette Testified Against Delbert Mills During His Bench Trial
Although Sharon never hesitated to convey her opinions to officials, it wasn’t until 2011 that Patricia’s case was reopened and her demise from the house fire was looked into under a different light. It ultimately culminated in Delbert’s arrest for intentional murder in December of the same year, so when he stood trial in late 2012 and early 2013, she was more than ready to take the stand. While her children’s as well as her siblings’ testimonies gave a comprehensive insight into the alleged abuse Patricia and John faced, she testified primarily to his alleged affair, lies, and threats.
According to Sharon’s statements, Delbert treated his son “like a stepchild,” going as far as to allegedly threaten to throw him out the window for crying less than an hour after he was born. She also claimed he had started “abusing” Patricia almost from the moment they tied the knot in the mid-1990s, but it got so bad after John came into this world that her sister filed for divorce. It was in 1999 when the mother-son duo moved in with her for a while in the hopes of starting anew, she asserted, yet he reportedly intimidated them into returning by threatening their lives.
Sharon even testified that Patricia knew about Delbert’s extramarital affair with Allison Newman Salinas and hence wanted to file for divorce again. Moreover, she claimed that when she rushed to her sister’s place upon hearing the news of her death at 11 am on the fateful June 25, 2003, morning, he didn’t show any emotion. All she could detect from his behavior was that he was angry their son had survived, she said, especially as he told her it would be best if she took custody of him that day itself. She even asserted that he had no contact with John since February 2004, had lied to her about having a life insurance policy on Patricia, and had remarried within two months of the ordeal.
Sharon Burdette Remains Dedicated to Her Family
Sharon’s testimony played a crucial role in Delbert’s trial, which concluded with his conviction for murder and a sentence of life in prison with the possibility of parole. Since then, it appears as if the San Angelo, Texas, resident has been doing her best to finally focus on her grief and her loving family rather than a fight for justice. The loss of her sister to homicide has been such that she can’t ever really get closure, but she is determined to keep her legacy as well as memories alive in her heart. The fact that she got custody of John, who now prefers to go by John Burdette because of how his aunt raised him as one of her own, alongside her husband, Todd, also helped her along the way.
Sharon had reportedly tied the knot with Todd Burdette in the 1980s, and they have been living in blissful matrimony in Texas ever since. They welcomed four children into the world over the years: Jessica Burdette, Jennifer Burdette, Justin Burdette, and Jami Burdette. Therefore, their priority as of writing is maintaining a close relationship with their now-adult kids, including John, being caring grandparents to the next generation of young ones, and making sure to take out quality time for themselves. Unfortunately, though, not everything has been sunshine and roses for Sharon since the trial because she sadly lost her brother Richard at the age of 43 on January 10, 2017, and her son Jami at the age of 29 on January 2, 2018. The small business owner dealing in car fresheners obviously misses them a lot, but, like Patricia, she keeps them alive in her heart.
Read More: Patricia Mills Murder Details and Investigation Timeline
